Sometimes I like to play the game: "Would this Set be Better if the same songs were played in the 80s or 90s?" The answer in this case, as in so many shows, is emphatically NO!

Take the Dancin', for example: from 2:30 the notes Jerry plays are FREAKIN DARK STAR notes! Let us not forget, it was Dancin' (of all songs) from that 1967 Rio Nido show (9-3-67) that Hunter wrote the lyrics to Dark Star to... Anyway, this DITS jam is like a hybrid of Dark Star and The Other One (just before the 5;00 mark) and is absolutely mindblowing!

So, no, an 80s or 90s Dancing in the Streets would not be better to this version. Ditto pretty much every other song on here. Exceptions: Cumberland Blues (early 80s could arguably match this song), Mama Tried (even in '95 Jerry still played a mean Mama), and maybe... MAYBE...China Cat, which could sometimes reach a second (or third) peak in the 80s. Otherwise, enjoy this 1969 show, at least for the following few reasons:

* Pigpen near the top of his game (Hard to Handle, Easy Wind, Good Lovin', Lovelight)

* TC's organ/melodic touch

* the PRIMAL DEAD of The Eleven > Lovelight, especially Jerry's first solo jam in the beginning

I really REALLY like this show, despite not having anything quote unquote 'mindblowing'. The St Stephen> Eleven > Lovelight combo is worth the price of admission--and yeah, the Black Peter is unique and slow-blusey in the best of senses--but for me the pseudo Dark Star a la Dancing in the Streets was a hidden gem for me; the highlight of an otherwise 4-star show.

If you're a Dead fan and have an extra hour to spare from your life, do yourself a favor.

Are we really sure that Peter opened this show?? It certainly could be, but I am wondering, if perhaps there were songs before that are missing here...I don't hear any band into and well okay perhaps, as a response to the tragedy of altamont, it certainly makes sense, and we know that it had a big impact on the band and resulted in new speedway boogie. But, I'm just not certain that it's truly what opened this show... Anyone else have some supporting info here or perhaps we'll just never know... Or perhaps to quote morning dew: "I guess it doesn't matter anyway." After a little bit more digging, I found the concert handbill/poster and interestingly it lists all four nights 12/4-7, with the final night being on the 7th of December. This is a bit peculiar cuz we know that they were scheduled for Altamont it seems unlikely that they were going to fly in and out on the 6th, and play that show and then come do the Fillmore afterwards, but I guess that's possible. Also on the bill was humble pie as previously mentioned and another band called flock which I've never heard of. The brotherhood of light conducting their liquid light show was also mentioned. So given the full bill with two other bands this looks like it was just a single set Sunday show this all leads more credence to the Black Peter opening. Sorry for rambling and wasting your time hahaha!!!!

Easy wind, Good lovin, and the 11 ar are a few of the highlights.

Some hiss with the start of the rare Black Peter opener but stay with this!

Black Peter
Hard To Handle
Cumberland
Mama Tried-> Easy Wind
Dancin'
Good Lovin'-> Drums-> Good Lovin'
China Cat > Rider
->Stephen-> The Eleven-> Love Light

This show foreshadows some of the acoustic/ electric to come in 1970 packed into just a single set.

Weir's voice on Mama Tried!

How often Mama tried>Easy Wind???
(Although it is NOT a full on jam connecting the tunes)
Dig Easy jam with full on Harmonica.

Folks say that this show is heavy feeling from Altamont
but the crowd seems pretty into it!
PRETTY HOT LOVELIGHT.

Humble Pie on this bill.